¤ Vera's story ¤

part 4: Crispy critter

by Neishai

Nyoco set the latest issue of Vera's magazine on the table. "I really think you should consider what I'm saying, Vera."

"Oh, no. Come on." Vera appeared to pace the kitchen as she moved back and forth, packing a lunch and some snacks before heading off to work. She had an article to submit today, and wanted to go over the finishing touches with Jatan. In the months since the Boat Festival issue, they had become a team, officially. And as a team, they had seriously begun to discuss going freelance.

"An ambassador?"

"Yes. You and Jatan have enlightened so many people with your research, you know."

"Just think about it." Nyoco's expression was intense, eyes holding fast to Vera's. She had the distinct impression of Nyoco boring into her brain, trying to will her to drop everything and just do it. But her tone and emotion bordered on pleading.

Nyoco saw a potential in Vera that could lead her to great things. A smart girl with quick wit and study, eyes open wide and drinking in her surroundings, mind open to the vast sea of possibilities… There were far too many people nowadays whose hope had dried up, like this Messel character she always complained about. They were no longer capable of changing the course of their destinies. Perhaps Nyoco had lost some of that. I am too old to do much more than guide my dear girl, and if my destiny is improved as a result, then so be it. I wish I could describe my thoughts to you, Vera. You are so dear to me, like the daughter I never had. The only way I can express them is in my actions, and so, I must urge you forward.

Vera did not believe she was qualified to be any more than a journalist. An editor? Sure, maybe. But a bridge between cultures? Maybe someday, after she'd gone freelance with Jatan. She sighed. "I'll talk to Jatan."

"Good!"

¤ ¤ ¤

Vera walked down the street to get to work. It was an ubiquitously overcast day, the belly of the clouds lazily scraping the roofs of the taller buildings in town like a feathery white dragon challenging the rationality of the citizens below. Every lawn and leaf in the trees lining the streets coordinated with the emerald hue of her eyes like matching shoes and hat.

She caught the flicker of flame-colored wings out of the corner of her eye, across the street. When she looked up to find a bird, she found none; it had flittered away. I've never seen a bird that color around here before.

She continued on her way, putting the bird out of her mind, though it made her curious. She had much to think about however, and had soon forgotten about it.

Then, when she was almost to the business quarter, she unconsciously heard the beating of wings approaching, then suddenly felt a screaming whoosh of air that whipped her hair around. "What the--" She ducked instinctively and spun around. She had heard of people being dive-bombed by a bird protecting its nest. She couldn't be sure if this was it, but what else could it be?

There in the sky was the flame-like 'bird.' It landed with ease on the roof of the nearest house, and turned to regard her regally. It certainly had flame-like plumage on wings and tail, and a crest down its neck, but there was something strange about the creature. It had long horns, and four legs, a reptilian tail … and the 'feathers' were…

"Flames!" she exclaimed.

The creature merely sat on its haunches and tilted its head, as if in reply.

"Are you some kind of demon maybe?"

It shook its head, then rose and proceeded to shake the rest of it's body, like a dog, sitting back with a poof! of it's fiery plumage. It reminded Vera of a bird for that short moment, but then it seemed catlike in its aloofness, as if to say, "if you can't figure it out, you're not worth my time." It lay down, watching her lazily, yet retaining an air of magnificence.

What an interesting creature! she thought. Then, since she was not above speaking to animals, waved her fingers at it. "Well, it was nice to meet you, but I'm going to be late for work." With one last glance back at it, she continued to her destination.

She heard something similar to a surprised, even indignant squawk behind her, and before she knew it, she had been razed yet again. "ARGH! What are--!"

Above her head again was the strange little creature. He hovered just at eye level once she had straightened from her defensive crouch, and stared fiercely into her eyes. With a start, she realized his eyes glowed without irises or pupils, like a superhero once he's put on his mask. Only slightly phased, she finally glared back. "What do you want?"

He growled at her, sounding very much like a German Shepherd that had just swallowed a helium balloon. She twisted her smile into a frown through sheer force of will and forced a growl through tightly clamped teeth. She didn't sound much better than he did.

He stared at her for a moment, cocked his head with a soft, questioning coo, then chirped happily, squinting his eyes with glee and touching her nose with his. Stunned, she stood there as he landed lightly on her shoulder, wrapping his flaming tail around her neck. Oddly, the flame burned coolly against the sensitive skin at her throat.

Then, a strange thing happened. She felt, no, she knew with certainty, that she had passed some sort of test. The thought had a wispy feel to it, like tongues of fire tickling the folds of her brain. You didn't flee, you didn't cry ... didn't laugh. I like you.

"I passed?"

In response, the creature made a chittering-purr noise, not unlike the sound a raccoon makes. It nuzzled her cheek happily. And again, she had the feeling across her brain: You had somewhere to be?

It was a suggestion. That must have been the difference between her thoughts and this … other. It was a suggestion, not a decision. And she realized she was receiving some sort of profound communication from the winged creature on her shoulder. "That was you, wasn't it?"

"Rhhthrrr." He looked at her with those eerie glowing eyes and closed them slowly until they were mere slits.

He understood her, as she understood him! Amazing! She nodded with a wide smile on her face and started to walk. "Well, alrighty then!"

¤ ¤ ¤

"What the hell is that?" Messel wrinkled his thin nose, putting a hand to his mouth as if to chew on his thumbnail. "And has it had all of its shots?"

The fire drake, a term Vera had coined nostalgically, hissed at the man venomously. He stepped back, wide-eyed.

Vera shook her head. "Probably not. Oh, and he won't bite, unless you deserve it."

Next to her, Jatan snickered. "She calls him a fire drake," he said, scratching the little one under the chin. Doesn't seem to have a problem with me, he thought smugly. 'S got good taste, anyhow. "But you still haven't answered my question, Vera. What's his name?"

"I … don't know, honestly. Usually I put a little thought into a pet before I decide to bring it home with me." She smirked. "But I haven't come home yet today, so I suppose I have plenty of time."

"Well I suppose we could throw out names and see if he likes any of them."

"Oh, that's a good idea. Every time he doesn't like a name, he can nibble your fingers off," Messel sneered. "Too bad you each have only eight fingers and two thumbs for him to go through."

"Why don't you go do something helpful, Messel, instead of upsetting Drake here. Go push some papers or something."

"Ha, ha," Vera said. "Jatan has a point there, Messel. As I recall, you have something due in two hours…" Messel swore under his breath and stalked away angrily. She grinned and pinched the fire drake's paw between her finger and thumb. Cats always hated it when she did that, but for some reason he didn't seem to mind. "I think we'll pass on the name 'Drake,' Jatan"

"Aww, okay."

At lunchtime Jatan suggested they use names from mythology, so for a while they traded legends and fairy tales back and forth until they settled on the word for a bird whose reincarnation every five hundred years was a fiery and violent one. It was a regal and magnificent creature, revered by several cultures.

"A phoenix huh?"

Vera nodded.

"Not sure I like the implications, but if that's what you guys want…" he trailed off as the newly dubbed Phoenix let out a trill of confirmation.

"When I was small," Vera said sometime later, "I loved the stories about dragons." Jatan and Phoenix perked up, so she continued, scratching the little fire drake like she would a cat. "Where I grew up, the stories about dragons were so diverse, it's hard to believe they're all about the same creatures!"

Jatan nodded knowingly, but failed to comment.

"There were stories in the West about big monsters with pot bellies used as a bellows for their flame, and bat-like dragons called wyverns whose arms were used for flight, and some, called wyrms, had no wings at all. Most dragons were thought of as evil; they'd raze villages to steal gold for their hoard and young women for their dinner, and knights were always there fighting to save them." She laughed. "Sounds like a lot of fluff added for drama. They made for good stories though; you know 'they lived happily ever after,'" she said dryly.

"All except the dragon, I suppose!" Jatan laughed.

"Exactly! These are the stories my ancestors dreamed up about dragons."

"And what do you believe?"

"Hm," she thought. "I suppose I've always liked the stories of the East best, about dragons who either live in, or are a part of, the earth underneath us. Some superstitions cautioned against building along a dragon's 'backbone.' Some control the sea, some control rainfall. Or was it both?" She laughed. "I don't know if I believe in that sort of thing, but almost always, whether the dragon was good or evil, or just was, he or she was always highly intelligent, wily, and wise. Many of the western stories made them out to be stupid, like glorified dinosaurs."

"I think a dragon would be like that," she continued. "Like any community, you'll have some good, some evil, they are all the same animal, like us," she grinned. "Whatever they'd be like, I believe that with every myth there is a certain element of truth, Man's fancy just embellishes it."

"And is that what you believe?"

"I think so, I've never seen a dragon," she laughed, "but that doesn't mean there's no such thing. And with the presence of Phoenix, how could I not believe in them?"

She paused, expression frozen on her face. Jatan frowned.

"Where's Phoenix?" they asked in unison, jumping to their feet.

"I'm sure he is fine," she said uncertainly. In her mind, he seemed to be all right, she would have known if he was hurt, wouldn't she? Then again, she hadn't even noticed that he'd left…

¤ ¤ ¤

Messel chuckled as he stared into the warm, pupil-less glowing eyes of the little fire drake. Messel had been visited mere moments after he'd submitted his article. He had still been tense and jittery after the insane rush of it all, but in Phoenix's presence, it hadn't been long before he felt completely relaxed.

"Rwrrrth," came the purring response. Phoenix climbed down the man's shoulder, once or twice glancing back up at Messel, while using his prehensile tail as a third limb. Then, without fear or hesitation (or the aid of his wings) he hopped off his forearm and onto the desk.

Unbeknownst to the pair, two onlookers stood behind Messel, silenced in their surprise. How was it that Messel and Phoenix were chummy all of a sudden, when earlier they had growled and thrown nasty looks at one another? Vera and Jatan shared a confused frown.

Messel saw their movements out of the corner of his eye and began to shudder convulsively, waving his bony hands at the fiery flit. "There you are!" he cried disgustedly, spooking Phoenix, Vera, and Jatan. They jumped as one, like a chill wind throwing up the skirts of flighty schoolgirls. "Ugh! It's about time you got here. You should keep this little beast on a leash if you won't watch out for him!"

Jatan and Vera exchanged another look.

The drake was not amused. Angered by his deception, Phoenix growled and hissed at the man, nipped a finger that came too close, and bound back up to his shoulder. Glaring at Messel eye-to-eye, he snapped his teeth together in annoyance and whipped around to jump up to Vera. As he leaped into the air, his flame-tipped tail slapped Messel in the cheek, leaving a hissing, flame-shaped welt on the flesh there.

Vera caught Phoenix mid-glide, and the flitter scampered up to her shoulder and coiled himself around her neck. His tail left no mark on her skin or clothing, the flames swirling about his body crackling with anger, but otherwise cool to the touch.

¤ ¤ ¤